Ahead of US President Barack Obama’s visit, the Sasashtra Seema Bal (SSB) has reported to the Union Home Ministry an airspace violation earlier this month over Raxaul in Bihar along the Indo-Nepal border.
A suspicious aircraft had hovered over Raxaul on January 4 prompting the paramilitary to send a report to the Centre over the development.
India has intimated the Nepalese authorities about the brief “intrusion” and sought details of the aircraft, its reasons for flying and radar signals picked up by them.
Intelligence Bureau (IB) reports suggest overactivity of Pakistan-based terror groups and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in Nepal over the last few weeks. Indo-Nepal border is sensitive as a number of top terrorists like Indian Mujahideen’s Yasin Bhatkal and lashkar-e-Tayyeba’s (leT) Abdul Karim Tunda have been arrested from there.
Security agencies apprehend that terrorists may avoid the national Capital in view of the elaborate security arrangements but may target some other places in the country during Obama’s visit.
The Intelligence agencies have issued an alert to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Maharashtra following inputs of possible terror strikes.
Terrorists may carry out strikes like the Chittisinghpura massacre in Kashmir on the eve of the visit of then US President Bill Clinton in 2000, according to Intelligence estimates.
During Clinton’s visit in March 2000, leT had targeted Chittisinghpura village in Kashmir, killing 36 people.
Unprecedented security arrangements have been made to ensure safe visit of Obama who will be the first US President to be the chief guest at the Republic Day function with a seven-layer security cordon prepared for him.
The sources said, in addition to tight security in the national Capital, Mumbai Police has also been asked to tighten security around sensitive spots in Mumbai, including the Siddhivinayak temple, South Mumbai hot spots like Taj Palace Hotel, Gateway of India and other tourist locations with high footfalls.
Governments of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jammu & Kashmir have been asked to be on high alert and ensure tight security in vulnerable areas.
The State Governments have been asked to ensure security of tourist places, places of religious importance and other areas where large number of people gather.